FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY  HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


(yOve^-Le^CiPCuKJ  /k 


y/i4^IU^^^ 


^  /,     ^^^/ 


1^ 


*   > 


»">'"■  -, 


A   LETTER 


FROM    THE 


REV.  ROBERT  R  DU  BOIS, 


CONTAINING    A 


SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    AND    CHARACTER 

OF    THE 

REV.  JAMES  LATTA,  D.  D.. 

PUBLISHED    IN     THE 

ANNALS   OF  THE  AMERICAN   PULPIT. 


For  Private  Distribution  Only. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

Press  of  Allen,  Lane  &  Scott, 

Nos.  1211-13  Clover  Street. 

1901. 


LETTER. 


New  London,  Pa.,  IMay  9,  1850. 

Dear  Sir:  You  have  requested  me  to  prepare  a 
sketch  of  the  life  of  the  late  Rev.  James  Latta,  D.  D., 
for  insertion  in  your  forthcoming  work.  In  this  re- 
quest his  only  surviving  son  has  joined.  However  in- 
competent for  such  a  task,  yet  thus  solicited,  I  feel 
encouraged  to  make  the  attempt.  For  the  sake  of 
your  readers,  who  will  naturally  inquire  how  far  they 
may  confide  in  my  statements,  it  seems  necessary  to 
observe  concerning  myself,  that  I  am  married  to  the 
eldest  daughter  of  one  of  his  sons, — the  late  Rev.  John 
E.  Latta,  and  that  my  father,  the  late  Rev.  Uriah 
Du  Bois,*  was  his  successor  for  twenty-three  years  in 


*  Uriah  Du  Bois  was  a  great-grandson  of  Louis  Du  Bois, 
who  was  driven  from  France  on  account  of  his  religion,  and  settled 
in  New  Paltz,  now  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  about  1660.  He 
(Uriah)  was  born  in  Pittsgrove  township,  Salem  County,  N.  J.,  in 
176S  ;  was  graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1790 ; 
was  engaged  chiefly  in  teaching  from  that  time  till  1796  ;  completed 
his  theological  studies  under  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.  D.,  of 
Philadelphia ;  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, October  20,  1796  ;  and  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 


4  A   SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

his  first  charge.  As  Stated  Clerk,  I  have  access  to 
the  Records  of  the  Newcastle  Presbytery,  of  which  he 
was  a  member  for  thirty  years.  I  have  also  examined 
the  printed  Records  of  Synod.  I  have  received  com- 
munications from  his  son  and  daughter,  his  daughter- 
in-law,  his  successor  in  his  second  charge,  and  Mr. 
David  Scott,  a  venerable  elder  in  that  church,  who 
remembers  him  well.  In  addition  to  these,  I  have  in 
my  possession  a  copy  of  the  "Christian's  ]\Iagazine" 
for  July  1 8 10,  which  contains  a  memoir  of  him,  in 
seven  octavo  pages,  supposed,  by  his  family,  to  have 
been  written  by  an  eminent  divine,  once  his  pupil,  and 
afterward  his  friend  and  co-presbyter,  the  late  Rev. 


of  the  Churches  of  Deep  Run  and  Tinicuni,  by  the  same  Presbytery, 
December  i6,  179S.  In  1S04,  he  resigned  his  charge  at  Tinicum, 
and  removed  from  Deep  Run  to  Doylestown,  eight  miles  distant, 
where  he  became  the  head  of  a  large  and  flourishing  school,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  established  a  Presbyterian  congregation,  to 
which,  in  connection  with  that  of  Deep  Run,  he  continued  to 
minister  till  the  close  of  life.  In  June,  1798,  he  was  married  to 
Martha,  second  daughter  of  Robert  Patterson,  LL.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  About 
two  years  before  his  death,  he  became  the  subject  of  a  wasting 
disease,  one  effect  of  which  was  the  almost  total  loss  of  sight. 
He  still,  however,  continued  his  work, — some  of  his  pupils  reciting 
to  him  in  a  darkened  chamber,  and  his  sermons  being  preached  in 
a  sitting  posture.  He  died  September  10,  1821,  in  his  fifty-fourth 
year.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  industry,  an  excellent 
classical  scholar,  an  accomplished  instructor,  and  an  earnest  and 
attractive  preacher. 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  5 

Dr.  Samuel  Martin,  of  Chanceford,  Pa.  Still,  with 
all  these  sources  of  information  before  me,  I  have 
been  surprised  to  find  how  few  things  connected  with 
the  life  of  this  good  man,  so  long  prominent  in  the 
church  and  in  society,  relentless  time  has  spared. 

James  Latta,  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  winter  of 
1732.  His  family  was  Protestant,  of  the  Scotch  Irish 
Presbyterian  stock.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Alison;  and  she  was  related  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis 
Alison.  Nothing  more  is  known  of  the  family  in  Ire- 
land. His  parents  migrated  to  this  country,  when  he 
was  about  six  or  seven  years  of  age,  bringing  him 
with  them.  The  vessel  in  which  they  sailed  from  Ire- 
land was  wrecked  upon  the  American  coast,  and  the 
family  records  being  then  lost,  the  exact  date  of  his 
birth  is  not  known.  They  settled  near  Elkton,  Md., 
and  are  believed  to  have  been  connected  with  the  Elk 
River  Congregation, — now  called  "the  Rock."  He 
once,  in  riding  by  a  graveyard  belonging  to  that 
church,  pointed  it  out  to  a  daughter  who  was  with 
him,  as  the  place  where  his  parents  were  buried. 

The  time  of  his  spiritual  birth  is  also  uncertain.  He 
appears  to  have  been  one  of  those  few  whose  hearts 
are  renewed  in  early  childhood,  if  not  from  the 
beginning  of  their  lives.  \A'hen  a  mere  child,  he  dis- 
covered a  very  serious  and  thoughtful  turn  of  mind, 


6  A  SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

and  a  pious  gravity  far  beyond  his  years.  Two  illus- 
trations of  this  are  preserved  in  the  family.  One  oc- 
curred at  the  time  of  the  shipwreck  referred  to.  Dur- 
ing the  three  days  and  nights  that  he  remained  with 
others  on  board  the  foundering  vessel,  before  they 
could  be  relieved, — so  remarkable  was  his  attachment 
to  his  Bible,  that  he  kept  it  continually  under  his  arm. 
He  seemed  to  think  that  the  most  precious  of  his  treas- 
ures, and  if  he  should  go  down,  that  he  must  carry  it 
with  him.  The  other  was  about  seven  years  later, 
when,  from  home  at  school.  So  much  was  he  esteemed 
for  his  piety  by  those  who  knew  him,  that  families 
with  whom  he  resided  looked  up  to  him  to  lead  their 
worship,  although  but  fourteen  years  of  age;  and  he 
did  it  with  an  understanding  that  charmed  and  aston- 
ished all  who  heard  him. 

This  pious  turn  of  mind,  together  with  his  promis- 
ing talents,  his  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  the  advice 
of  judicious  friends,  prompted  his  parents  to  give  him 
a  liberal  education.  He  was,  accordingly,  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Alison,  at  that 
time  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  New  London,  in  Chester 
County,  Pa.,  and  also  the  Principal  of  a  classical  school 
at  the  same  place.  This  was  the  school,  which  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia,  in  1744,  adopted  as  their  own, 
paying  the  salaries  of  the  INIaster  and  Tutor  by  yearly 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  7 

contributions  fromtheir  churches, and  offering  ''gratu- 
itous instruction  in  the  languages,  philosophy,  and 
divinity,  to  all  persons  who  may  please  to  send  their 
children."  Here  were  trained  up,  under  this  deserv- 
edly famous  teacher  and  scholar,  many  youth,  who, 
in  their  turn,  became  eminent  in  the  Church  or  the 
State.  Amongst  these  the  subject  of  this  sketch  made 
japid  improvement  in  useful  knowledge,  and  in  re- 
ligious experience. 

In  the  year  1752,  Dr.  Alison,  having  been  chosen 
a  Professor  and  Vice  Provost  of  the  College  of  Phila- 
delphia, then  being  established,  and  now  styled  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  removed  thither.  His 
young  pupil  soon  followed  him,  and  having  there 
completed  his  collegiate  education,  he  received  his 
degree  at  the  first  Commencement  that  took  place  in 
this  new  seminary.  As  a  proof  of  his  high  standing 
there,  he  had  assigned  to  him.  on  that  occasion,  the 
Salutatory  Oration  in  Latin, — an  exercise  allotted  to 
the  member  of  the  class  reputed  to  be  the  best  scholar. 
I  have  before  me  his  diploma,  as  Master  of  Arts,  bear- 
ing date  May  i,  1760,  and  stating  on  its  face  that  he 
had  received  his  first  degree  of  A.  B.  on  the  17th  of 
May,  1757. 

The  Trustees  of  the  College,  being  favourably  im- 
pressed with  his  character  and  attainments,  offered 


8  A   SKETCH    OF   THE  LIFE 

him  a  situation  as  Tutor.  This  place  he  accepted  and 
held  for  a  few  years,  still  pursuing  his  favorite  study, — 
Divinity,  under  the  same  instructer,  who  had  so  long 
guided  him  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge.  Having  put 
himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  passed  his  trials  with  much  approbation, 
he  was  licensed  by  it  to  preach  the  Gospel  on  the  15th 
of  February,  1758.  He  still  remained,  however,  in 
the  College  as  Tutor,  pursuing  his  studies  under  Dr. 
Alison,  and  enjoying  the  advantage  of  submitting  his 
sermons  to  the  inspection  of  that  venerable  theo- 
logian. He  acquired  in  this  way,  that  accuracy  in  the 
style  and  structure  of  his  sermons,  for  which  he  was 
ever  after  remarkable. 

The  Synod,  at  its  meeting  in  May,  1759,  directed 
him  to  "visit  the  Indians"  in  the  summer  of  that  year, 
and  in  November  following,  to  go  with  several  others 
on  a  mission  to  the  then  destitute  settlements  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Carolina.  The  former  of  these  appoint- 
ments he  did  not  fulfil,  for  reasons  which  were  sus- 
tained by  the  Synod;  but  the  latter  he  faithfully 
discharged,  spending  some  time  in  those  Southern 
parts. 

Mr.  Latta  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia in  October,  1759. — it  would  appear  as  an 
evangelist,  and  very  probably  in  reference  to  the  mis- 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  q 

sion  to  the  South,  on  which  he  was  to  go  in  the  fol- 
lowing month. 

The  Congregation  of  Deep  Run.  in  Bucks  County, 
Pa.,  having  presented  to  him  a  call,  it  was  accepted 
by  him,  and  he  was  installed  there  in  the  year  1761. 
At  that  time,  Deep  Run  was  a  Presbyterian  settle- 
ment, and  the  church  flourishing.  In  after  times,  the 
Germans  took  possession  of  that  region,  and  the  con- 
gregation became  very  small.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Mr.  Latta,  the  lot  of  ground  on  which  the  church 
stands,  and  the  parsonage  house  and  farm,  were 
deeded,  by  the  Hon.  William  Allen  of  Philadelphia, 
to  him  and  his  successors  in  the  ministry,  for  the  use 
of  the  congregation. 

On  the  28th  day  of  ]\Iay,  1762,  the  Second  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia  was  set  off  by  the  Synod  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  This  consisted  of 
five  ministers,  of  whom  Mr.  Latta  was  one;  and  they 
were  all  strenuous  advocates  of  what  was  called  the 
Old  Side.  It  appears  from  certain  dissents  and  pro- 
tests, in  1766,  when  an  ineffectual  attempt  was  made 
in  Synod  to  reunite  the  two  Presbyteries,  that  this 
Second  Presbytery  had  been  formed  on  the  elective 
aifinity  principle,  as  its  members  professed  to  be  con- 
scientiously opposed  to  the  practice  of  examining 
candidates   for    the    ministry    on    their   experimental 


10  A   SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

acquaintance  with  religion,  which  the  Synod  had  ap- 
proved of;  and  had  declared  that  sooner  than  remain 
in  a  Presbytery  which  pursued  that  practice,  they 
would  break  off  from  all  connection  with  the  Synod. 
In  the  year  1770,  Mr.  Latta  resigned  the  charge  of 
Deep  Run.  About  that  time,  he  was  called  to  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  Congregation  of  Chestnut  Level, 
in  Lancaster  County,  Pa., — which  belonged  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Newcastle.  This  call  was  accepted,  and 
he  was  received  as  a  member  by  that  Presbytery  on 
the  1 6th  of  May,  1771,  and  on  the  second  Tuesday 
of  November  following,  was  installed  in  the  pastoral 
office  by  Messrs.  Alexander  McDowell  and  William 
Foster.*  The  congregation,  at  that  time,  was  widely 
scattered  and  very  weak.  The  salary  promised  in  the 
call  was  only  one  hundred  pounds,  Pennsylvania  cur- 
rency, which,  "says  Mr.  Scott,  (the  elder  above  re- 
ferred to,)  "was  never  increased,  and  rarely  all  paid." 
Through  the  importunity  of  some  friends,  who  wished 
to  educate  their  sons,  he  was  prevailed  on  (though 


*  William  Foster  (often  spelled  Forsier)  was  graduated  at  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  in  1764  ;  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Newcastle,  April  23,  1767  ;  accepted  a  call  from 
Upper  Octorora,  where  was  ordained  and  installed  October  19, 
1768  ;  and  died  in  September,  17S0.  He  had  a  high  standing  as  a 
minister,  and  occasionally  received  under  his  care  theological 
students. 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  II 

not  without  great  reluctance,  lest  it  should  interfere 
with  his  pastoral  duties,  to  which  he  desired  wholly 
to  devote  himself)  to  take  a  few  pupils  under  his  care. 
This  led  the  way  to  numerous  applications  of  the  same 
kind,  so  that  he  was  induced  to  employ  an  usher,  that 
he  might  have  more  time  to  attend  to  his  ministry. 
This  school  was  continued  under  his  direction  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  was  acquiring  celebrity;  but  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  breaking  out,  arrested  its  progress. 
The  usher  and  several  of  the  older  scholars  joined  the 
army,  and  he  being  unwilling  to  have  the  sole  charge 
of  it,  it  was  closed.  After  the  war,  as  soon  as  learn- 
ing became  again  an  object  of  pursuit,  a  Latin  School 
was  established  at  Chestnut  Level  by  Mr,  Sampson 
Smith ;  but  Air.  Smith  having  been  suddenly  killed,  by 
a  stroke  of  lightning,  his  pupils  were  left  without  an 
instructer.  Here,  again,  Mr.  Latta  was  constrained 
to  take  up  a  charge  which,  in  his  own  mind,  he  had 
resolved  never  to  resume.  The  eyes  of  these  young 
men  were  directed  towards  him,  and  their  affecting 
solicitations  to  take  them  under  his  care,  in  their  deso- 
late situation,  were  irresistible.  He  continued  to  have 
charge  of  the  school  for  several  years,  but  gave  it  up 
some  time  before  his  death.  Several  distinguished 
men  were  educated  at  this  school.  The  income  de- 
rived from  it,  added  to  his  meagre  salary,   enabled 


12  A   SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

him  to  purchase  a  farm,  build  a  house  upon  it,  and 
support  his  large  family  with  decency  and  comfort. 

]\Ir.  Latta  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of 
American  liberty,  and  firmly  and  zealously  espoused 
that  cause  both  by  word  and  deed.  He  stimulated 
his  people  to  defend  their  rights,  and  once,  in  the 
course  of  the  war,  when  an  unusual  number  of  them 
were  drafted  to  serve  in  the  militia,  with  a  view  to 
encourage  them,  he  took  his  blanket  and  knapsack, 
like  a  soldier,  and  actually  accompanied  them  on  their 
campaign.  At  another  time,  he  served  for  a  while  in 
the  army  as  a  Chaplain. 

About  the  year  1785,  many  congregations  in  this 
region  were  agitated  upon  the  subject  of  procuring 
Acts  of  Incorporation  from  the  State.  Some  of  the 
people  were  in  favour  of  this  measure,  whilst  others 
vehemently  opposed  it,  on  the  ground  that  if  they 
were  members  of  chartered  bodies,  their  estates  would 
be  encumbered,  as  by  a  mortgage  for  arrears  of  sal- 
ary. This  controversy  became  very  earnest  at  Chest- 
nut Level.  A  petition  was  sent  to  the  Legislature 
for  a  charter,  in  which,  it  would  appear,  the  pastor 
concurred.  This  gave  rise  to  a  remonstrance  against 
the  petition,  which  was  signed  by  a  part  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  which  had  even  the  appearance  of 
reflectinsf  on  the  moral  character  of  their  minister. 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  13 

At  least,  it  was  so  understood  by  him.  The  conse- 
quences were,  great  distress  to  his  own  mind,  much 
strife  and  discord  among  the  people  of  his  charge, 
and  the  excluding  from  church  privileges  of  some  of 
the  members.  In  this  painful  state  of  things,  Mr. 
Latta  called  a  special  meeting  of  -the  Presbytery.  It 
appears,  from  their  Records,  that  they  laboured  in  the 
matter,  part  of  two  clays,  patiently  heard  both  par- 
ties, and,  as  the  result,  found  (to  use  their  own  lan- 
guage) ''that  the  evils  complained  of  had  taken  their 
rise  from  mistaken  apprehensions  and  injurious  repre- 
sentations of  the  nature  and  design  of  the  petition 
before  mentioned;  and  that  the  persons  complained 
of,  whatever  their  paper  might  imply,  disavowed  all 
intention  of  impeaching  ■Mr.  Latta's  character,  or  pre- 
venting his  usefulness.  The  Presbytery,  therefore, 
being  desirous  to  adopt  the  most  lenient  and  healing 
measures,  agreed  to  take  their  solemn  declaration  to 
that  purpose,  as  being  a  full  justification  of  Mr.  Latta's 
character  and  conduct.  Accordingly,  all  the  persons 
complained  of,  who  were  present,  declared,  one  by 
one,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  they  did  not  in- 
tend, by  any  means,  to  injure  the  character,  interest, 
or  usefulness,  of  Mr.  Latta,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel." The  Presbytery  then,  having  restored  them  to 
their  former  standing,  "exhorted  all  parties  to  unity, 


14  A  SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 

and  to  the  cultivation  of  peace  and  brotherly  love,  and 
to  the  manifestation  of  a  due  respect  to  Mr.  Latta." 
Thus  was  closed  a  breach  that,  at  one  time,  threatened 
wide  spread  evil.  This,  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  was 
the  only  serious  disagreement  that  Mr.  Latta  ever 
had  with  any  of  his  people;  and  the  result  of  it  was 
certainly  very  creditable  and  honourable  to  him,  and 
proved  that,  however  some  of  them  might,  for  a  sea- 
son, be  led  away  by  passion,  he  had  in  reality  the 
confidence  and  heartfelt  attachment  of  them  all. 

A  few  years  afterward,  some  of  the  neighbouring 
churches  began  to  introduce  the  Psalms  and  Hymns 
of  Dr.  Watts  into  their  public  worship.  This  was  also 
an  exciting  subject  in  its  day.  Mr.  Latta  warmly  advo- 
cated the  new  Psalmody,  and  laboured  hard  to  have  it 
brought  into  use  among  his  people;  but  so  earnest 
was  the  opposition,  on  the  part  of  some  of  his  leading 
members,  that  it  never  was  accomplished  in  his  day, 
and  not  until  all  these  persons  had  been  removed  by 
death.  At  that  time,  the  Rev.  John  Anderson,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Associate  Church,  wrote  a  Treatise  on 
Psalmody,  strongly  reprobating  the  use  of  Watts,  and 
challenging  its  friends  to  a  vindication  of  it.  This 
gave  Mr,  Latta  an  opportunity  of  publishing  his  views 
at  large  on  the  subject.  He  accepted  the  challenge, 
and  sent  forth  a  pamphlet  of  a  hundred  and  eight 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  1 5 

octavo  pages,  the  object  of  which  was  to  show  that 
the  principal  subjects  of  Psalmody  should  be  taken 
from  the  Gospel.  The  pamphlet  was  never  answered; 
and  the  high  estimation  in  which  it  was  held,  at  that 
time,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  it  passed  through 
four  editions.  This  is  the  only  work  that  he  ever  pub- 
lished. 

The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was 
conferred  upon  him.  about  the  close  of  the  last 
century, — it  is  believed,  by  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania.'^ 

Dr.  Latta  laboured  on  in  the  ministry,  until  very 
near  the  close  of  life.  In  December,  a  month  before 
his  decease,  he  attended  a  meeting  of  his  Presbytery 
at  New  London,  twenty  miles  from  home.  The  cir- 
cumstances of  his  death,  as  related  by  one  of  his 
daughters  to  my  mother-in-law,  were  as  follows : — 
Riding  to  church  one  Sabbath  with  his  daughter 
]\Iary,  he  was  thrown  from  the  carriage,  and  falling 
on  his  head,  he  was  somewhat  stunned.  He  observed 
to  her, — "I  am  killed;  but  do  not  tell  your  mother." 


*  In  the  minutes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  institution, 
there  is  a  record  of  Mr.  Latta's  having  been  proposed  for  the  de- 
gree, but  not  of  its  having  been  actually  conferred,  in  1799.  The 
omission  of  the  latter  is  supposed  to  have  been  accidental,  as  it 
was  actually  conferred  by  some  College  about  that  time,  and  his 
name  is  not  found  on  the  catalogue  of  any  other  College. 


l6  A   SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

He  proceeded  to  church,  preached  with  some  diffi- 
culty, and  returned  home.  He  soon  after  fell  into  a 
sleepy,  comatose  state,  until  his  daughter,  the  next 
day,  alarmed,  related  to  her  mother  what  had  hap- 
pened. Help  was  immediately  called  in,  but  in  vain. 
He  continued  a  few  days,  almost  insensible,  and  then 
died.  Thus  no  opportunity  was  afforded  to  his  family 
and  friends  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  his  conversa- 
tion in  his  last  moments.  He  died  on  the  29th  of 
January,  1801,  near  the  close  of  his  sixty-eighth  year. 
"His  personal  appearance,"  says  Mr.  Scott,  "was 
not  great, — slightly  stooping,  he  appeared  rather 
below  the  medium  height — very  spare  of  flesh,  he 
always  looked  older  than  his  years.  There  w^as  in  him 
a  blending  of  cheerfulness  and  gravity  rarely  met 
with."  An  old  lady,  describing  him  as  she  had  seen  him 
alight  from  his  horse,  with  his  venerable  countenance, 
and  his  long  white  hair  hanging  over  his  shoulders, 
said  he  seemed  to  her  like  the  very  impersonation  of 
an  old  Apostle.  Some  aged  people  in  my  own  con- 
gregation of  New  London,  to  which,  when  vacant,  he, 
for  many  years,  was  accustomed,  in  company  with  Dr. 
Read  of  Wilmington,  to  administer  the  Communion, 
have  spoken  to  me  of  the  grave  dignity  of  his  appear- 
ance, and  of  his  great  solemnity  in  the  pulpit.  The 
writer  of  his  Memoir  says, — "though  of  a  very  deli- 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  IJ 

cate  constitution,  by  a  remarkable  temperance  and 
care,  he  attained  to  more  than  the  ordinary  age  of 
man." 

Dr.  Latta  was  greatly  blessed  in  his  family.  About 
the  year  1765,  he  was  married  at  Deep  Run  to  Miss 
Mary  McCalla  of  that  congregation, — an  aunt  of  the 
present  Rev.  William  Latta  INIcCalla  of  Philadelphia. 
She  was  a  woman,  eminent  for  her  piety  and  amia- 
bility, and  was  truly  a  helpmeet  for  the  man  of  God 
to  whom  she  was  united.  She  continued  to  reside  on 
the  family  farm  at  Chestnut  Level  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  February  22,  18 10,  in  the  sixty-sixth 
year  of  her  age. 

They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  wdiom 
eight  survived  them.  Of  these,  four  were  sons,  who 
all  entered  the  ministry. 

His  eldest  son,  Francis  Alison,  was  ordained  on 
the  23d  of  November,  1796;  was  first  settled  at  Wil- 
mington, De.,  then  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  afterwards 
at  Chestnut  Level, — his  father's  former  charge.  Dur- 
ing a  large  part  of  his  ministry,  he  also  employed  him- 
self as  a  teacher,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  in 
that  way  alone.  In  this  department,  he  was  justly 
distinguished,  and  indeed  there  were  few,  if  any,  in  his 
day,  who  excelled  him  as  a  classical  scholar.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  mind,  and  well  cultivated,  a  poet,  and  an 


1 8  A  SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 

eloquent  pulpit  orator.  In  his  disposition  he  was 
social  and  amiable.  He  was  never  married.  He  died 
April  21,  1834,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  having  served 
in  the  ministry  nearly  as  long  as  his  father. 

His  second  son,  Williain,  was  graduated  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1794,  was  settled  as  a  Pas- 
tor over  the  united  Congregations  of  Great  Valley 
and  Charlestown,  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  con- 
tinued to  have  the  charge  of  those  Churches  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  19th  of  February,  1847, 
being  then  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  and  in  about 
the  fiftieth  year  of  his  pastorate.  He  was  also  a  fine 
scholar,  was  skilful  in  the  use  of  his  pen,  and  was  oc- 
casionally occupied  in  teaching.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Loyd  of  the  Great  Valley,  who  died  about  the 
same  time  with  himself.  By  her  he  had  four  chil- 
dren,— one  of  whom  is  now  the  Pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Waynesburg,  in  Chester  County. 
The  General  Assembly,  in  1847,  paid  a  tribute  to  his 
memory,  by  speaking  of  him  as  "one  of  the  venerable 
fathers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church."  He  was  created 
a  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  the  La  Fayette  College,  a  few 
years  before  his  death. 

The  third  son  of  Dr.  Latta  was  John  Ezviug.  He  re- 
ceived ordination  on  the  13th  of  August,  1800,  and 
was  the  Pastor,  during  the  whole  of  his  ministerial 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  19 

life,  or  over  twenty-four  years,  of  the  united  Churches 
of  Newcastle  and  Christiana,  in  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware. For  a  number  of  years,  he  had  charge  of  an 
Academy  at  Newcastle,  and  several  distinguished  men 
were  educated  by  him.  An  obituary,  written  by  Dr. 
Gilbert,  then  a  pastor  at  Wilmington,  De.,  speaks  of 
him  as  "intelligent,  exemplary,  and  conscientious;  at- 
tentive to  the  afflicted  and  the  anxious,  a  man  of  en- 
larged views  and  liberal  feelings,  and  a  faithful,  clear 
and  instructive  expounder  of  the  word  of  God."  He 
served  the  General  Assembly,  for  several  years,  as 
their  Permanent  Clerk,  and  was  honoured  with  other 
important  offices  in  the  Church.  He  was  married  to 
Catharine  Van  Voorhies  of  Philadelphia,  and  left  be- 
hind him  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  all,  with 
their  mother,  still  survive.  He  died  on  the  26th  day 
of  September,  1824,  in  his  fifty-second  year. 

The  following  are  his  publications: — A  Serious  and 
affectionate  Address  to  the  Citizens  of  the  United 
States,  by  a  Society  lately  established  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  vice  and  immorality.  A  Sermon  preached  on 
a  day  recommended  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  to  be  set 
apart  for  Fasting,  Humiliation,  and  Prayer,  1808. 
Christ's  ministers,  watchmen  for  souls :  A  Sermon  de- 
livered before  the  General  Association  of  Connecticut, 


20  A  SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 

1809.  A  Sermon  delivered  on  a  day  recommended 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  to  be  set  apart  for  solemn  Thanks- 
giving and  Prayer,  1809.  A  Sermon  preached  on  a 
day  recommended  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Humiliation  and 
Prayer.  18 12.  A  Sermon  preached  on  a  day  recom- 
mended by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  be 
observed  as  a  day  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer,  1813. 
A  Sermon  preached  at  a  meeting  of  a  Committee  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle,  and  also  at  the  opening 
of  the  Presbytery,  18 14.  A  Sermon  preached  on  a 
day  recommended  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Humiliation,  Fast- 
ing, and  Prayer,  181 5.  A  Sermon  preached  at  New- 
castle, on  a  day  recommended  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Public 
Thanksgiving  and  Praise  to  God  for  the  Restoration 
of  Peace,  181 5.  An  affectionate  and  earnest  Address 
of  a  minister  to  the  people  under  his  care,  on  the  im- 
portant subject  of  Practical  ReHgion :  with  short  and 
easy  Catechisms  for  children. 

The  youngest  son  of  Dr.  Latta,  bearing  his  own 
name,  James,  was  settled,  at  the  time  of  his  ordina- 
tion, April  3,  181 1,  over  the  Congregation  of  Upper 
Octorora,  in  Chester  Countv,  Pa.,  where  he  continues 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  21 

to  this  day.  He  is  now  the  oldest  member  of  the 
Newcastle  Presbytery.  His  congregation  is  large  and 
flourishing,  and  has  enjoyed  several  precious  revivals 
of  religion.  He  has  had  six  children,  of  whom  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living.  Any  further 
notice,  in  this  case,  would  be  unseemly,  as  he  of  whom 
I  write  still  lives. 

The  names  of  Dr.  Latta's  daughters  were  Mary, 
Margaret,  EUzabctli,  and  Sarah.  The  first  three  were 
unmarried,  and  have  all  been  removed  by  death  within 
the  last  twelve  years.  They  were  intelligent,  valu- 
able women,  sincerely  attached  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  they  were  pious  and  useful  members. 
The  youngest,  Sarah,  is  now  living,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Love,  of  Delaware  State. 

For  a  sketch  of  the  cJiaractcr  of  Dr.  Latta,  in  his 
diiiferent  relations,  I  depend  mainly  upon  the  "]Mem- 
oir"  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  Dr.  Martin, 
already  referred  to,  and  the  reminiscences  of  Mr. 
Scott,  the  venerable  elder  of  Chestnut  Level,  whose 
name  I  have  before  mentioned. 

"As  a  Teacher,''  says  the  Memoir,  *'Dr.  Latta  was 
remarkably  well  qualified.  Without  severity,  he  had 
the  faculty  of  governing  well.  He  possessed  the 
happy  talent  of  making  his  pupils  both  fear  and  love 
him.  Thev  witnessed  his  fidelity,  thev  saw  his  concern 


22  A  SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 

for  their  interests,  and  they  reverenced  him  as  a  father. 
As  a  scholar,  too,  he  had  few  equals;  his  erudition 
was  general  and  profound.  Such  were  his  known 
abilities,  and  such  his  reputation  as  an  instructer,  that 
when  any  of  his  pupils  were  sent  to  the  University 
over  wdiich  the  late  Dr.  Ewing  presided,  who  has  been 
so  deservedly  famed  as  a  scholar,  they  were  always 
received  without  examination.  It  was  sufficient  to 
know  they  had  received  their  education  with  Dr. 
Latta." 

"As  a  Mail,"  the  writer  of  the  Memoir  observes, 
"Dr.  Latta  was  truly  amiable.  'An  Israelite  indeed' 
he  was,  'in  whom  there  was  no  guile.'  Possessing  a 
very  affectionate  heart,  he  was  a  steady,  sincere  and 
faithful  friend.  A  fund  of  good  sense  and  a  natural 
cheerfulness  which  he  possessed,  rendered  him  both 
a  profitable  and  an  agreeable  companion.  His  con- 
versation was  instructive  and  entertaining.  It  was 
indeed  almost  impossible  to  be  long  in  his  company 
without  being  both  pleased  and  improved.  Both  old 
and  young  were  fond  of  his  society.  When  paying  a 
visit  to  any  of  his  people,  it  was  pleasing  to  see  the 
youth  gather  around  him  to  enjoy  his  conversation. 
Though  by  his  deportment  he  always  inspired  a  rever- 
ence for  his  character,  yet  he  was  easy  of  access,  and 
never  failed  to  attract  the  attention,  and  add  to  the 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  23 

entertainment,  of  those  with  whom  he  conversed." 
Mr.  Scott's  testimony  to  this  point  is  of  the  same  char- 
acter. 

"As  a  Christian  and  Minister,"  the  Memoir  testifies, 
"he  was  exemplary  to  a  remarkable  degree.  He  was 
an  ornament  to  religion,  and  his  uniform  deportment 
was  such  as  to  recommend  it  to  all  who  knew  him. 
When  cheerful,  there  was  nothing  of  levity  about  him; 
when  grave,  there  was  no  austerity.  His  conduct  was 
always  manly  and  dignified,  and  calculated  to  inspire 
both  reverence  and  love.  The  Scriptures  were  the 
rule  of  his  life,  and  the  glory  of  God  the  end  for  which 
he  lived.  He  was  conscientious  in  the  discharge  of 
every  duty.  And  with  such  dignity  did  he  support 
the  sacred  ofifice  which  he  bore,  that  there  was  scarce 
ever  an  instance  of  any  person  conducting  himself 
profanely  or  rudely  in  his  presence.  The  sight  of  him 
made  folly  blush,  and  vice  cover  its  head."  To  this 
j\Ir.  Scott  adds,  that  "he  was  a  man  fully  furnished, 
both  by  nature  and  education,  for  a  Gospel  minister 
of  the  first  order;  a  most  ardent  lover  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  faithful  in  his  Master's  service  to  the  last." 

"As  a  Preacher,"  too,  we  learn  from  the  Memoir, 
"he  was  highly  eminent.  He  naturally  possessed  a 
strong  and  penetrating  mind,  and  this  was  well  fur- 
nished by  reading  and  study.     His  style  of  writing 


24  A  SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

was  accurate,  nervous,  and  often  elegant.  Though 
it  was  evident  he  sought  not  after  refinement  in  his 
composition,  yet  the  ornaments  and  graces  of  diction 
seemed  occasionally  to  force  themselves  upon  him.  In 
the  pulpit,  he  possessed  an  uncommon  gravity.  His 
countenance  and  mien  bespoke  him  to  be  the  man  of 
God.  His  manner  was  plain  and  unaffected,  but  in- 
teresting and  impressive.  The  vein  of  good  sense 
which  ran  through  all  his  preaching,  and  evidently 
flowed  from  a  heart  which  deeply  felt  all  that  he  said, 
powerfully  arrested  the  attention  of  his  hearers.  He 
was  faithful  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 
While  he  comforted  and  encouraged  true  Christians, 
he  held  up  to  sinners  a  glass  in  which  they  might  see 
themselves ;  but,  in  addressing  them,  he  always  spoke 
as  with  the  compassion  of  a  father.  The  doctrines  of 
Grace  were  the  burden  of  his  preaching.  On  them  he 
delighted  to  dwell,  and  his  manner  of  handling  them 
was  peculiarly  interesting.  His  whole  life  and  con- 
versation showed  how  near  he  lived  to  his  Master, 
how  supremely  he  was  devoted  to  his  work,  and  how 
much  he  was  concerned  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
He  himself  lived,  and  endeavoured  to  teach  others  to 
live,  for  eternity.  Though  on  earth,  his  conversa- 
tion was  in  Heaven.  Few  men  indeed  have  discovered 
more   indifference   for   amassing   the   wealth   of   this 


OF    REV.    JAMES    LATTA,    D.  D.  25 

world,  or  more  diligence  in  laying  up  treasures  for 
another.  Being  set  as  a  watchman  on  the  walls  of 
Zion,  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  his  trust. 
He  was  willing  to  spend,  and  was  spent,  in  his  Mas- 
ter's service.  He  was  instant  in  season  and  out  of 
season.  For  upwards  of  forty  years  he  laboured  faith- 
fully in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord." 

I  close  this  long  letter,  but  for  so  eminent  and 
worthy  a  man,  comparatively  brief  sketch  of  his  life, 
labours,  and  character,  with  a  copy  of  his  epitaph, 
written  by  the  Rev.  William  Arthur*  of  Pequea. 


*  William  Arthur  was  born  in  Peebles,  Scotland,  in  April, 
1769,  received  a  classical  education  at  Edinburgh,  and  was  ordained 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  Paisley.  In  1793,  he  came  to  this 
country  ;  and  having  preached,  for  some  time,  both  at  New  York 
and  Albany,  he  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1796,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Pequea,  as  successor  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Smith.  His  relation  with  this  congregation 
was  dissolved  May  i,  1S18.  After  this,  he  preached  a  few  months 
in  Lancaster,  and  occasionally  supplied  his  former  charge.  In 
1819,  he  removed  to  Cincinnati ;  and  while  there,  was  attacked  with 
an  affection  of  the  eye,  by  which  he  partially  lost  his  sight.  In 
1825,  he  removed  from  Cincinnati  to  Zanesville,  where  he  died  of 
hemorrhage  of  the  lungs  in  February,  1827.  He  was  distinguished 
for  his  common  sense  and  firmness  of  purpose,  and  for  the  brevity, 
point,  and  effectiveness,  of  his  sermons. 


26       A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF    REV.   JAMES    LATTA,  D.  D. 

"In  memory  of 

THE  REV.  DR.  JAMES  LATTA, 

Who  died  29th  January,  1801,  in  the  6Sth  year  of  his  age. 

By  his  death,  society  has  lost  an  invaluable  member  ; 

Religion  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments,  and  most  amiable  examples. 

His  genius  was  masterly,  and  his  literature  extensive. 

As  a  classical  scholar,  he  was  excelled  by  few. 

His  judgment  was  strong  and  penetrating  ; 

His  taste  correct,  his  style  nervous  and  elegant. 

In  the  pulpit  he  was  a  model. 

In  the  judicatures  of  the  Church,  distinguished  by  his  accuracy 

and  precision. 

After  a  life  devoted  to  his  Master's  service. 

He  rested  from  his  labours,  lamented  most  by  those  who 

knew  his  worth. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  ; 

Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labours, 

And  their  works  do  follow  them." 

With  respect  and  affection. 

Your  brother  in  Jesus, 

ROBERT  P.  DU  BOIS. 


